Predictors of Relapse in Major Depressive Disorder (PERFORM-D)

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common condition involving recurring periods of depression. One of the major challenges faced by people with MDD is that the episodes of depression tend to recur even after they are successfully treated. Currently, it is hard to predict when a depressive episode will recur. Being able to forecast this would help healthcare providers monitor patients and prevent relapse.

The purpose of this study is to monitor features such as clinical symptoms, physical activity, sleep patterns, cognitive functioning and brain activity to help us understand how relapse happens and the mechanisms that cause it. From these different types of data, investigators will build a model that tells us who is more likely to experience a relapse and when the relapse is likely to occur.

This study will be a significant step forward in understanding and managing MDD. Investigator will create a practical tool that will allow healthcare providers to monitor patients more effectively. By identifying early signs of relapse, investigators may be able to intervene promptly to prevent depressive episodes. Finally, our research will help understand the factors that underlie relapse in MDD, which will encourage the development of novel treatment approaches.

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Key information

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Depressive Disorder Depressive Disorder, Major Disease Attributes Mental Disorders Mood Disorders Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Recurrence

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

About this study

This study is a multi-centre prospective naturalistic observational cohort study. Participants with MDD in remission will be enrolled and followed for 18 months since enrollment. This study will be conducted across eight Canadian clinical-academic sites (Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto-Center for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], Kingston, Ontario Shores and Halifax), which are currently enrolling participants for the OPTIMUM-D study (NCT05017311). For the present study, participants will be recruited from each of these sites, focusing on OPTIMUM-D participants who attain broadly-defined remission.

Participants will wear a GENEActiv accelerometer (Activinsights; motion tracker) on the non-dominant wrist for the duration of the study. Participants will rate their depression by completing the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms 16-item Self-Rated Version (QIDS-16SR) and anxiety by completing the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) at weekly interval throughout the study. Participants will have in-person follow-up assessments every two months to rate their depressive symptom severity using the Montgomery-Asberg depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Speech and Electroencephalography (EEG) will be collected every two months, and at the time of relapse.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Outpatients 18 to 70 years of age.
Meet DSM-V criteria for MDD as determined by the SCID-5 or other standardized clinical interviews.
In the current or most recent MDE, participant must be responding or responded to a treatment or a combination of treatments for MDD. Patients with remitted MDD who are currently not taking medications will also be accepted. Patients must have achieved remission at or later than May 1, 2023.
Participants must have a MADRS total score ≤14.
Participant must be willing and able to complete self-reported assessments including sufficient fluency in English.
Participant must be willing to wear the wrist-worn actigraphic device for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

Bipolar I or Bipolar-II diagnosis (lifetime), schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder.
Elevated risk of suicide, as determined by clinical evaluation.
Existence of major neurological disorders, head injury (if accompanied by any of [A] loss of consciousness longer than 24 hours, [B] documented evidence of Glasgow Coma Scale <9 at the time of injury, [C] post-traumatic amnesia lasting longer than 24 hours) (43), or other unstable medical conditions.
The participant presents with any condition which, according to the researcher's judgment, could interfere with the assessments stipulated in the protocol.
The participant is employed by the researcher, actively involved in the current study or other research overseen by the same researcher, or is a relative of a study employee or the researcher.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Time-to-relapse

Time frame: 18 months
In this study, relapse will be defined as any of the following:
- MADRS total score equal or greater than 22 for at least 2 consecutive weeks. If the relapse criterion of MADRS total score equal or greater than 22 is met at a study visit (scheduled or unscheduled), an additional visit (i.e., the Relapse Verification visit) will be scheduled 2 weeks later (± 5 days) to verify the relapse.
- Hospitalization onto an inpatient acute care unit for worsening of depression.
- Suicidal ideation with intent, or suicidal behavior plus at least one elevated MADRS total score of equal or greater than 22.
- Change in antidepressant management undertaken for the purpose of managing emergent depressive symptoms.
- Other factors deemed by clinician to be sufficient to denote relapse (the investigator will be asked to describe clinical rationale in this situation).
Participants who relapse will continue to be followed in the study.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Vanessa Pardo, BA (Hons)

CONTACT

[email protected]

902-473-2697

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Abraham Nunes

Other

Collaborators

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
McMaster University
Nova Scotia Health Authority
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Queen's University
University Health Network, Toronto
University of British Columbia
University of Calgary

Registry information

Official study title

Predictors of Early Relapse During Follow-up Of Remitted Major Depression

Acronym: PERFORM-D

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2028
Study completion: 2029
First posted: Dec 24, 2024
Registry last updated: Jul 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Recruiting